One&Only Desaru Coast: Kerry Hill 128-acre South China Sea palace with Hoshi Japanese, 50m infinity pool, and Chenot Spa

Cascading across 128 secluded tropical acres where ancient Malaysian rainforest meets a pristine 1-kilometre stretch of private white-sand beach on the South China Sea in Desaru, Johor, Malaysia (just 45 minutes by private boat from Singapore Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal or 75 minutes from Senai International Airport), One&Only Desaru Coast opened in 2020 as Southeast Asia’s premier modernist luxury beachfront grand palace. The final architectural masterpiece designed by legendary Australian architect Kerry Hill before his passing, the 44-suite-and-villa luxury haven combines clean geometric lines, local Merbau timber, soaring indigenous stone walls, and tranquil water reflection ponds. Featuring the acclaimed Japanese dining institution Hoshi, the Mediterranean beachfront restaurant Ambara, an extraordinary 50-metre heated outdoor freshwater infinity pool facing the ocean, private plunge pools in every suite, and the first Chenot Spa in Asia, this property is Malaysia’s ultimate luxury grand palace.

Arrival introduces travelers to unvarnished Malaysian tropical splendour and South China Sea majesty: personal Butlers greet guests beneath Kerry Hill’s soaring stone gatehouse on Persiaran Damai before entering the breezy open-air arrival pavilion with double-height timber ceilings, reflection pools, and chilled calamansi-ginger iced tea with warm pandan kaya pastries. Day-one logistics focus on coordinating bespoke Desaru rainforest, marine, and golfing pursuits: stepping onto 1 kilometre of private white sand to swim, paddleboard, and kayak in the warm tropical ocean (steps away), private guided dawn birdwatching and wildlife walks with resident naturalists in Panti Forest Reserve to spot dusky leaf monkeys and hornbills (15 minutes away), playing 27 holes of championship golf at the adjacent Els Club Desaru Coast (5 minutes away), swimming in the colossal 50-metre oceanfront pool or your private suite plunge pool, experiencing science-backed diagnostics and hydrotherapy at Chenot Spa, sipping craft cocktails at the open-air Beach Club, and reserving dinner at Hoshi.

Palace living balances active Malaysian nature adventures with serene holistic wellness: Chenot Spa spans a dedicated wellness pavilion featuring private luxury treatment suites, bio-energetic checkups, Chenot detox hydrotherapy circuits, and therapies utilizing organic botanicals and Chenot cosmeceuticals. Dining is an extraordinary Japanese-Malaysian-Mediterranean culinary summit: refined modern Japanese omakase at Hoshi (featuring bluefin tuna, tempura, and rare sake pairings), farm-to-table Mediterranean dishes at Ambara, wood-fired barbecue at Essential by the pool, and in-suite royal dining.

Accommodations comprise 42 standalone suites and 2 private multi-bedroom beachfront villas (including the four-bedroom Villa One) styled by Kerry Hill in warm Merbau hardwoods, indigenous yellow stone, private plunge pools, and expansive furnished verandas framing the South China Sea or rainforest canopy ranging from 105 to 1,500 square metres. Each residence features dedicated 24-hour personal butler service, plush king beds with custom linens, and marble bathrooms with deep soaking bathtubs, embedded TV mirrors, and custom amenities.

Modernist purists, wellness enthusiasts, and luxury travelers seeking Desaru Coast seclusion, Kerry Hill architecture, and Chenot Spa in Malaysia should book One&Only Desaru Coast without hesitation. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.9 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 2,600 reviews and a 4.9 out of 5 on Google across 3,800 reviews.